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Ngige, Emefiele, NLC Parley over Planned Strike

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has taken steps to avert the impending nationwide strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress, billed to commence on Wednesday.

The labour union had threatened to embark on the nationwide industrial action, if the cash crunch, fuel scarcity and electricity tariff increase were not addressed.

In response to the strike threat by the NLC, Ngige invited the leadership of the NLC and the Central Bank of Nigeria management to a meeting in his office on Monday, to resolve their differences.

The 10-man delegation of the NLC was led by its President, Joe Ajaero, and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, while the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was accompanied by two Deputy Governors, Kingsley Obiora (Economic Policy) and Ade Shonubi (Organised Private Sector).

Making his opening remarks, Ngige refuted the allegation by the NLC that his mnistry did nothing about the matter.

He said on receiving the letter from NLC, he forwarded same to the CBN Governor before travelling out of the country for an International Labour Organisation Governing Board meeting and directed the Permanent Secretary and Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations Department to follow up.

On his own part, Emefiele said when he received the letter from the labour ministry, he called the President of NLC to brief him on steps taken to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

He said he went further to have a meeting with NLC president, which he said resulted in the large volume of funds made available to the deposit money banks.

Ajaero urged the CBN to improve on their services, regretting the information gap created in the implementation of the naira redesign.

He said, “The NLC could not have stopped CBN from taking good decisions and implementing them in the interest of the nation. If stakeholders were invited and briefed on the policy, when the people complain, NLC would explain everything to them. But in this case, the CBN did it alone. Moreover, it is a wrong time for administering such a national policy.”

He said the National Executive Committee of NLC will meet today to take a decision on the planned strike.

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INEC Rejects N40bn Allocation, Proposes to Spend N126bn in 2025

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed the sum of N126 billion for its 2025 budget.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the presentation while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly on Friday.

He pleaded with the National Assembly to approve the 2025 budget, which is nearly three times the size approved last year.

“Our proposal for 2025; the Commission requires the sum of N126 billion. So, we will like the support of the National Assembly members to ensure that we are adequately funded for the responsibilities we are required to discharge, and most of these responsibilities are constitutional, they are not just in the Electoral Act,” Prof Yakubu said.

Prof Yakubu expressed concerns over the high cost of conducting elections in Nigeria, describing it as exorbitant and burdensome.

He highlighted that despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of N40 billion last year, significantly lower than the N80 billion initially requested.

He emphasized the financial strain this has placed on the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively.

In a bid to address these challenges, he appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting election all year round,” he said.

The INEC Chair further lamented the deteriorating state of INEC’s facilities, particularly the 860 buildings across the country, which are in urgent need of repair.

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Rivers: Court Grants Fubara Power to Run State with Three Lawmakers, Okays Budget Presentation

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A Rivers State High Court has ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is legally empowered to transact business with the three lawmakers who have not vacated their seats in the State House of Assembly.

Justice Sika Aprioku said this in his judgment on December 20, 2024, while dismissing a suit seeking to compel the governor to represent the 2024 budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly.

The said suit marked PHC/3552/CS/2024 was filed by the Registered Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners and had the Government of Rivers State, the governor of Rivers State, and the Attorney General of the State as defendants. It sought to compel the governor to represent the 2024 budget to the 27 lawmakers led by Amaewhule for passage into law.

After considering the arguments from the different counsels, Justice Aprioku ruled that Governor Fubara could transact business with the members who did not vacate their seats.

“Therefore, the same way His Excellency Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, presented Budgets and financial Bills with only six members when the numbers were less than two third 2/3 of the 32 Members, so shall His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State be constitutionally guided to interface, and approach the properly constituted House of Assembly led by Oko-Jumbo, to carry on the business of the state and until the 27 lawmakers who defected and lost their seats, approaches the court, for a redemption or INEC conducts another election to the seats vacated by the 27 lawmakers upon their defection,” the court said.

“In sum, until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the issue of jurisdiction which affects the status of the 27 lawmakers, it is only those who did not vacate their seats, the Governor can constitutionally approach to the present budget, appoint chief judges and president, customary court; also screen commissioners, including the attorney general and make board appointments.

“That the claimant’s claim seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs for the re-presentation of the 2024 Budget to the former 27 lawmakers, who defected and automatically vacated their seats, lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.

“That this suit be and is hereby dismissed, with cost in the sum of N500,000.00, awarded in favour of the defendants and against the claimant.”

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Tinubu Concludes One Day Visit to Enugu, Promises to Complete Eastern Rail Line

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President Bola Tinubu promised on Saturday that his administration would complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State.

Tinubu, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the assurance at an interactive session with South-East leaders in Enugu.

The president was in Enugu State on a one day visit, where he commissioned projects undertaken by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.

He also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.

The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

Tinubu said: “On the support of the gas infrastructure. Sure, gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors.”

He praised Governor Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government.

He said the Federal Government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.

Among the projects inaugurated by the president were the GTC Smart Green School; New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Center, the Command-and-Control Center, and 150 patrol vehicles equipped with surveillance cameras.

President Tinubu also performed the virtual commissioning of other notable projects from the Enugu State Government House.

At the inauguration of the Command-and-Control Center, he said investment in security would bring rapid development.

“This is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub-nationals and local government is not a waste. It is for development.

“We have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today.

“I don’t care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.

“No one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos.

“We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria. But we live in different rooms in the same house.

“We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs,” President Tinubu added.

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